Blog

Posted on April 6, 2016 by Linda Jacobs There she sat at a fast-food restaurant, single mom alone with her daughter. The place was mostly empty. A worker was mopping the floor, and the little girl was fascinated with his chore. Her mom was glued to her cell phone. The little girl’s dinner sat at the table, untouched except for a few french fries she’d poke in her mouth as she ran back to the table every so often. Maybe it’s because I’m cognizant of what kids of divorce go through and aware...

They came from Mali, Eritrea, Syria and Pakistan. They were Muslim, Hindu, Catholic and Coptic Christians. And one by one, Pope Francis knelt down before these migrants on Holy Thursday and washed their feet. The ritual, performed in a center for asylum seekers outside of Rome, comes amid anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe and in the wake of a terrorist attack in Brussels, for which the Islamic State has claimed responsibility. A number of the migrants whose feet were washed by the pope had...

First thing you may ask is What?? and then, perhaps, Why?? Well... The story of Jesus’ arrest, trial, death, burial and resurrection can be difficult for many people, but none more so than the victims of abuse or neglect, or for anyone especially affected by violence. We want to be sensitive to the special needs of those that have endured trauma, but still remain truthful to the gospel. So, what is a parent, children’s minister, or pastor to do around Easter? It’s a tough situation. If you...

Image: ejlri.wordpress.com Thank you to ACEs Connection San Diego State University Group member, Maralisa Deguzman, for sharing this article. As a former teacher-turned-youth director, I can attest to the power of sharing ideas among trusted co-workers. Why re-invent the wheel when you can steal great ideas from others and apply them to your own situation? I had the opportunity to do just that recently when I sought ways to improve communication between my high school youth and their...

                    Photo credit Max Klingensmith at  flickr . Jose was one of the calmest, quietest, most peaceful boys in the classroom.  The kind of boy everybody loves.    ...

On October 1 st , 2015, the  2 nd  Annual Building Resilient Communities Through Trauma-Informed Congregations   meeting is being held in Washington, DC.   The goal is to create the tools and momentum to build resilient...

Home Background REGISTER  to participate in person REGISTER  to participate via webcast REGISTER  to participate at an amplifier site (webcast downlink) REGISTER  to host an amplifier site Amplifier Site (webcast downlink) Speakers...

              © Elliot Gilfix/Flickr   .   What happened to Jasmine? .                     Photo © Jinx!/Flickr     When you look...

          Posted on  August 13, 2015   by  Linda Jacobs Imagine looking like your father and being proud of that fact. Perhaps at some point in your young life your grandmother proudly said to her friends,...

        Recently I read the book, “ Cheering for the Children ” by Casey Gwinn. This is an amazing book and while not written for church leaders or children’s ministers it is a worthwhile read to anyone...

PA BUDGET VETOED!  Another chance at 11th hour. Help bring a national spotlight to create awareness and get action on childhood trauma. Yes, we still have a chance -- amazing ! -- to have the General Assembly explicitly acknowledge the impact of...

Short summary of presentations and topics discuss Briefing on Welcoming Movement and Welcoming Congregations            Stephanie Kreps Stephanie Kreps from ?? shared the Unitarian Universalist...